Winch for towing and the like



Nov} 12, 1946. A. A. JOHNSCSN 2,411,094

WINCH FOR TOWING AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 9, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ndv. 12, 1946. JOAHNSQN 2,411,094

WINCH FOR TOWING AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 9, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR.

Nov. 12, 1946.

A. A. JOHNSON 2,411,094 WINCH FOR TOWING AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 9, 1941 3 Shgetg-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINCH FOR TOWING AND THE LIKE Almcrr A. Johnson, Forest Hills, N. Y.

Application September 9, 1941, Serial No. 410,121

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in winch apparatus and is directed more particularly to winch apparatus characterized by its adaptability, among other purposes, for towing, as where one vessel is towed by another.

The principal objects of the invention reside in the provision of winch apparatus adapted, as when towing one vessel byanother, to pay out the tow-line when it is subjected to abnormal strains and to recover the payed-out line when the strain becomes normal.

Where one vessel is towed by another with a tow-line which is merely made fast to the towing vessel and extends to the towed vessel, the line is subjected to severe strains for various reasons and this oftentimes results in parting of the line.

Accordingto this invention, the winch apparatus is constructed and arranged in such a manner that when the strainer pull on the tow-line exceeds a normal predetermined pull, as when a surge occurs, the lin is payed out to accommodate the excess strain; when the strain is reducedto normal, the length of line payed out is recovered again. Should a subsequent surge occur While the line is being recovered or reclaimed, the line is payed out again until the strain or pull becomes normal and then all of the line payed out is reclaimed.

In that way the line payed out to accommodate a surge or successive surges is recovered. It is possible to. provide a predetermined length of line extending between the vessels under conditions of normal strain or pull, yet when a surge or surges occur the line is payed out to accommodate the excess pull thereby to obviate the usual consequences resulting from abnormal strains on the tow-line, and the payed-out line is recovered on normal conditions of strain to provide the predetermined length of line.

The novel objects of the invention are accomplished in a broad way bythe provision of a cable drum for the tow-line which operates, as the strain or surge on the line exceeds a predetermined normalto rotate a brake drum and thereby to actuate a frictionally-engaged band which controls the function of the apparatus.

In a general way, as the brake band is actuated, the brake of an electric motor is released and the drum pays'out the cable and operates a reclaiming mechanism which controls the motor for operating the drum in such a way that the torque of the motor increases accordingly as the line is payed out so that the pull orstrain on the line is resisted by the motor torque. When the strain or pull on the line assumes the predetermined normal, the motor then operates the cable drum to take up or reclaim the line payed out and when reclaimed, the brake band assumes normal position again. In a broad way, when a surge on the line occurs the motor is overhauled against its normal direction of rotation until sufficient torque is built up to stop it and cause the line tobe recovered.

More specific and detailed objects, advantages, and functions of the apparatus will be observed from the following description of the apparatus of the invention. Various changes and modifications may be-made in the form of the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention wherefor the form to be described is for purposes of disclosure only.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1' is a side elevational view of a winch apparatus embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View through oneend of the line drum and brakedrum;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the frame at the lower side of the brake drum;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View on the lin 5-5 Fi .4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the reclaiming control mechanism; and g Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of electrical mechanism of the winch.

Referring nowto the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described. It will be understood that the construction shown. is for purposes of disclosure only and that various changes in construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of: the invention.

A supporting base is represented by 21 which may be of any desired form and on which are mounted in spaced relation bearings such as 4. A shaft 6 is rotatable relative to the bearings and has a gear 8 thereon. i v

A hearing it hasa shaft I'Z'journaIled ther'ein andhas a pinion M fixed thereto which is in mesh with the gear 8. A gear lfion said shaft l2 meshes with'a pinion. it of amotor 2E3;

A cable orline drum 39 is mounted for rotation relative to'thesha'ft 6 by ineans'of bearing tlyrasis a brake drum" member 32 by means of bearing 33, as shown in Fig. 3. A; sun gear 34 fixed on shaft 6 and an internaT 'earQE' associated with the brake member-32, are in mesh with one or more planetary gears 36' which may berotat- 3 ably mounted on member 30 as by a stud 3B associated with said cable drum member 30.

As in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,946,145, the shaft 6 may be rotated and the brake member held against rotation to rotate the cable drum 38.

A brake band 49 is in frictional engagement with the brake drum 32 and any suitable means may b provided for adjusting the said band, so that it offers more or less resistance to the rotation of the brake drum.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the brake band 40 is yieldingly held against rotation by means of links connected to the lower side thereof that are connected at their free ends to a spring compressor 52.

The compressor 52 has a member 54 extending therefrom into a compression spring 56 disposed between member 52 and a part 58 associated with the base 2. Bumpers 53 are associated with a bracket 55 secured to the base to limit movement of said member 52 to the left in Fig. 5. Any other means may, of course, be employed and the parts are arranged to ofier a predetermined resistance to counterclockwise movement of the brake band 40 and thereby of the brake drum 32. A member 60 is pivoted to the brake band which may take any form and is intended when th brake band moves to operate certaincontrol mechanism as will appear. This member 60 may take any form and may be connected to the brake drum 32 instead of the band 40, if desired.

A brake drum is provided on the shaft of motor and a brake band 12 in operative frictional engagement therewith is actuated by a spring l6 and released by a solenoid 18, see Fig. 7.

A chain 80 engages a sprocket 82 of shaftfi and a sprocket 84 is rotatable on a shaft 36 of a reclaiming control mechanism 88. The sprocket 84 is urged into frictional engagement with a disc 90 fixed on shaft 86 by a spring 92 to constitute a clutch mechanism.

A worm 94 on the shaft 8 6 meshes with a worm ear 96 of a shaft 98 on which is a drum I00. As the cable drum rotates in paying out the cable the drum I00 is rotated and is made use of for reclaiming or controlling the function 'of reclaiming. The drum I00 carries a plurality of electrical contacts llll connected by I03 that engage their respective contacts represented by arrows, as shown in Fig. '7.

The friction clutch associated with the drive mechanism for the drum is intended to function should the length of cable payed out be too great,

as when the drum I00 would be rotated beyond its operative range.

A shaft l Ill driven by gears l2 associated therewith and with shaft 98 is provided on which is an index member H4 adapted to register with a dial H6, see Figs. 2 and 6. This mechanism may be arranged to indicate the length of cable paid out by the cable drum during a surge or surges.

According to the invention it is desired that a certain length of cable extend from the cable drum to the vesselbeing towed and that said length be substantially maintained under some normal predetermined strain or pull on the cable but that when a surge occurs, such as when the normal strain is exceeded, the cable be payed out to accommodate the strain and that the payed out cable be recovered or reclaimed when the strain is'again reduced to normal.

Under normal strain of the cable the operation in general is asfollows:

The motor 20 is held against rotation by the' brake l2 and thereby, through gear 8, l4, l6 and I8, the shaft 6 is held. The brake drum 32 is held against rotation by band 40, the movement of which is resisted by the yielding means such as spring 56.

The cable drum connected to the shaft 6 and brakedrum through the planetary gear system is held against rotation since the shaft 6 and the brake drum are held.' .This condition obtains until the pull or surge on the cable is sufficient to cause the cable drum to act through the planetary system on the brake drum to move it against the yielding means 56 or overcome the resistance thereof. Thus the yielding means determines the normal pull or strain.

The yielding means may be varied within wide limits and functions to resist paying out rotation of the cable drum 3!]. The yielding means determines the normal predetermined strain on the cable and a strain in excess thereof called a surge brings about the paying out of the cable to accommodate the surge and the subsequent reclaiming or recovering of the cable paid out until the certain predetermined length is again established.

When a surge occurs on the cable 0 in the direc.

tion ofarrow A (see Fig. 7) since shaft 6 is held against rotation, the tendency of the cable drum to rotatewill, through the planetary gearing 34, 35 and 38 bring about rotation of the brake drum 32 so that it moves the brake hand against the action of the yielding means 56, the surge overcoming the resistance of the said yielding means.

act on member 60 in the direction of arrow B.

As the brake band moves, the member 60 is caused to function in conjunction with the control mechanism to energize the solenoid l8 and release the motor brake. The motor is then free,

as is shaft 6, while the brake drum is of course held by the brake band so that rotation ofeither the cable drum 30 or of the shaft 6 brings about rotation of the other through the planetary gear The cab-1e during the surge rotates the cable drum so that cable is payed out and said drum through the planetary gearing, since the brake drum is held, acts on the shaft 6 which in turn through gears ll, M, It and I8 acts on the motor 26. The rotation of the cable drum to pay out the cable also brings about rotation of the reclaiming drum I00.

In the initial paying out of the cable due to a surge and the rotation of the cable drum, the consequent torque of the motor 20 is reduced below normal but as the paying out continues the motor torque increases so as to progressively resist rotation of the drum and the paying out of the cab-1e. When the torque of the motor overcomes the strain on the cable or the strain'thereon is again normal the motor is rotatedso as to rotate the cable drum for rewinding and reclaiming the cable payed out. v

It is intended that there be a reclaiming action following each surge and that the cable bepayed out to accommodate a surge whichmay follow a prior surge with subsequent reclaiming. While the cable is being reclaimed following a surge the mechanism operates to pay out cable; to accommodate a surge during that reclaiming period so that at all times cable is payed out and re claimed as conditions demand. 1" There'may be means for guidingthecableonto In the illustration of Fig. 7 when the brake band moves, it moves counterclockwise to the cable drum which is indicated generallyby.

I20 but forms no part of the present invention;

The mechanism and circuit operable to release the motor brake and provide for the motor torque may take various forms but for purposes of disclosure,,the arrangement of Fig. '7 will suffice. In this figure which is diagrammatic the drum 30, brake drum 32 and brake band 40, are shown as are the drunrIIIEI and the circuits connecting the motor 20 and motor brake 12 to a supply indicated by I20 and I22.

,There are various relays for opening and closing circuits in cdnjunction with a resistor I24 to provide the torque requirements described.

The drum I32 has interconnected circumferential contacts I52 for contacting with contacts, represented by the arrows I32 as shown in Fig. 7 when the drum I32 is rotated. Other circumferential contacts I54 on the drum I32 are interconnected as shown and in the rest position of said drum are in contact with their respective contacts represented by the arrows I54 shown. These contacts I54 are of different lengths.

A power line is represented by I20 and I 22. Relay switches are shown at I56, I58, and I60, each having movable circuitclosing members I56, I58 and I60 engageable with contacts represented byarrows I56", I58, I60 as shown. The field of the motor 20 is represented by 2!.

A contact I32 for one of the contacts I52 of drum I32 is connected by I 62 to power line I20. The other contact I32 is connected by. I64 to relays I58 and I60. The other connection of said relays is by I 66 to the motor field and to the motor brake solenoid 18. Relay I56 is connected to the power line I20 and I22 by I10 and I12. The contacts I58 and I60 of relays I58 and I60 are connected by I14 and I16 to line I26.

A" connection I16 extends from I66 to power line I22. The resistance I24 is connected to line I22 and motor 20. Relay switches such as I82 have swingable switch arms I82",,as shown, that are engageable at upper ends with upper contacts represented by arrows I82. The lower ends of the arms I82 carry circuit closers, as shown, for engaging contacts I83 adjacent thereto. The upper contacts I82 of the left hand relay I82 is connected by I84 to one end of the resistance I24; A conn ction I88 extends from contact I56 of relay I56 to a contact for the right end segment I0! of drum I60. The swingable member I56 of said relay I56 is connected by I92 to power line I20.

Relays I81, I69 and have swingable arms I82, I89 and 20! for making upper contacts,

I81, I88 and 20!". Said contacts 20!, I89, I81 and contact I82 are connected by 203,205, 201. and 209 to the resistance I24 in each case through the arms of the relays at the left thereof and said connections divide the resistance I24.

Lower ends of relay arms 20I and I89 are engageable with-contactsZII and 213. Relays 20!, I88, and thesecondrelay I82 from the left are. connected together by I85 and to a contact I83 of said relay I82. Contacts I83 of the two leftmost relays I82 are connected by M1 to 204. The arm 20! of relay 20! is connected by 2I9 to right-hand end of resistance I24.

A connection I94 extends from one contact I52 of drum I32 to a contact I0! of drum I00. A connection I95 extends from I88 to a contact 54 for a segment of drum I 32. Connections I98, 200, and 202 extend from other contacts I54 for segments of drum I 32 to relays I 82, I82 and I81, as shown.

The relay I82 at the left is connected by 204 to line I 22. One of the contacts I0! for a second segment of drum I00 is connected by 206 to contacts 2!! and 2I3 of the two right-hand relays 20! and I89. The contact of the third segment contact I0! is connected by 208 to the second relay I89 and to a contact 2I3 thereof. vA connection 2I0 extends from the remaining contact I0! for drum I00 to the right hand relay 20! and a contact 2!! thereof.

As a special feature of the invention, there is tension control means including a lever I30 operatively connected as by a rack and gear (as shown) to a drum I32. Lever I30 is fulcrumed on a rod on which a housing I36 is reciprocable with a spring I38 therein. A lever I40 connected to the housing may be swung to the left to act on the fulcrum through the spring I38. The drum I32 carries contacts and through the connections, to be described the motor is controlled as and for the purpose described. There may be a stop mechanism associated with the drum I32 so that with spring 56 compressed, the lever I40 in moving to the left will cause the spring I 38 in tube I36 to be compressed. The stop mechanism may include stop members or abutments I40 engageable by the rack whichrotates drum I32.

The operation of the apparatusis, briefly, as follows:

As has been described, the motor 20 is normally held against rotation by its brake so that the shaft 6 is also held through the connecting gearing. The brake drum 32 is frictionally held by the band 40, movement of which band is resisted by spring means 56. I

When a surge on the cable occurs to move it in direction of arrow a thereby to rotate the cable drum, it acts through the planetary gearing to rotate the brake drum 32 counterclockwise which through friction acts on hand 46 to move rod to the right in direction of arrow b. Rod 60 swings lever I30 clockwise and it through the rack and pinion rotates tension control drum I32. The rotation of the cable drum in paying out cable to accommodate the excessive strain or surge also rotates the reclaiming drum I00.

As automatic tension control drum I32 rotates and with its contacts I52 and I54 engaging their respective contacts I32 and I54 relay I56 is energized through I62, I64, I10 and I12, and relays I58 and I60 are energized through I62, I64, I66 and I18;

Operation of relay I60 closes circuit including I66 and I16 to motor brake solenoid 18 freeing the motor 20.. Operation of relay I58 connects the motor 20'to power lines I20 andI22.

Also leftmost. relay I82 is energized through I98 and 204' so that its. arm I82 makes. its contactiI82" to establish a circuit including I82, I84 and 209 and: connecting contacts I83 thereby energizing the adjacent relay I82 through said contacts I83 and 200. Thiscloses arm I82". of the second relay I82 whereby relay I81 is energized through 202 and contacts I83. The arms I82 and I81 of the three leftmostrelays complete circuits through connections I84, 209, 201 and 205.

As reclaiming drum rotates, its two righthand contacts I0! engage their respective contacts I0! to complete a circuit including I88, arm I56 of relay I56, connections I92, I94, I64, I66, I18. Thus relays I56, I58 and I60 are energizedso l'ongas the aforesaid contacts I0! and III! are in engagement thereby to maintain the motor including portions of the resistance 7 and its brake solenoid connected to the power line.

The movement of the rod 60 is such to rotate thedrum I32 to the extent the contacts I54 run off of or beyond their contacts I54 and they remain in that position until the strain on thev cable again becomes normal and the drum I32 rotates back to its normal position. v

As cable is paid out so that the cable drum rotates the reclaiming drum, however, additional contacts IOI thereof engage their respective contacts lIlI.

When the third contact II)! from the right of drum I engages its contact IOI' relay I89 is energized through 208 and I85 so that its arm I89 closes a circuit including 205, 283 and a portion of resistance to the motor whereby the torque of the motor is increased. Should drum IIJil be further rotated by the paying out of cable so that the leftmost contact IIlI engages its contact IIEI relay 20I is energized through 2H] and I85 whereupon its arm 2M closes a circuit including 203, 2I9 a portion of. resistance I24 and a connection 2l3 from arm 2M to I24 whereby the motor has additional torque.

Ordinarily a surge calling for the paying out of cable will be such as to cause the strain on the cable or the cable pull to overhaul the motor during the beginning of the paying out period. The reclaiming drum and means operated thereby are such as to increase the torque of the motor While cable is being paid or until the motor torque overcomes the strain and brings about reclaiming of the cable.

The apparatus is constructed and arranged so that sufficient cable will be paid out to accommodate any ordinary strain thereon while torque is decreased to accommodate for the strain and reclaim the paid out cable.

1 When the strain on the cable paid out is overcome, the'motor through the gearing rotates the cable drum for winding up the cable, the reclaiming drum being rotated in a reverse direction by said cable drum.

When the paid out cable has been reclaimed the contacts HM and IN are disengaged and when the strain on the cable becomes normal the spring means 56 acts on the brake band and rod 60 to return the drum I32 to its normal position, thereby breaking contacts I32 and I56 so that the motor stops and the brake therefor is applied.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

' What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A full automatic towing Winch apparatus comprising in combination, a motor and an electric motor brake to hold the motor against rotation when de-energized, a cable-drum having a cable thereon and rotatable in opposite payingout and reclaiming directions, connections between said motor and cable-"drum whereby either may'rotate' the other, a brake drum associated with said connections, a brake band frictionally',

engaging and movable by said brake drum, ten-' sion means resisting movements of the brake band in one direction as the cable tends to rotate the cable drum in paying out direction under a certain pull on the cable and yieldable' to permit the brake band to move in said one direction when said certain pull is exceeded as by a surge to demand paying out of cable, a source of electrical energy, control means, circuit means connecting said motor and motor-brake and said source of energy and control means, resistance means in said circuit means, and mechanical connections between said brake band and control means whereby as the certain pull on the cable is exceeded by a surge to bring" about movement of the brake band in said one direction said control means is moved in pay-out direction and said motor and electric brake are connected in the circuit means so that said surge initially overcomes the torque of the motor and the paying out of cable brings about counter torque of the motor to oppose paying out of the cable thereby to snub the same when the peak of the surge has passed and to rotate the cable drum in reclaiming direction.

2. A full automatic towing winch apparatus comprising in combination, a motor and an electric motor brake to hold the motor against rotation when de-energized, a cable-drum having a cable thereon and rotatable in opposite payingout'and reclaiming directions, connections between said motor and cable-drum whereby either may rotate the other, a brake drum associated with said connections, a brake band frictionally engaging and movable by said brake drum, tension means resisting movements of the brake band in one direction as the cable tends to rotate the cable drum in paying out direction under a certain pull on the cable and yieldable cuit means connecting said motor and motorbrake and said source of energy and control means, resistance means in said circuit means, and mechanical connections between said brake band and control means whereby as the certain pull on the cable is exceeded by a surge to bring about movement of the brake band in said one direction said control means is moved in payout direction and said motor and electric brake are connected in the circuits so that said surge initially overcomes the torque of the motor and the paying out of cable brings about counter torque of the motor to oppose paying out of the cable thereby to snub the same when the peak of the surge has passed and to rotate the cable drum in reclaiming direction, and means associated with said mechanical connections for controlling the point at which a surge in excess of said certain pull to bring about movement of the brake band will operate said control means.

3. A full automatic towing winch apparatus comprising in combination, a motor and an electric motor brake to hold the motor against rotation when de-energized, a cable-drum having a cable thereon and rotatable in opposite payingout and reclaiming directions, connections between said motor and cable-drum whereby either may rotate the other, a brake drum associated with said connections, a brake band frictionally engaging and movable by said brake drum, tension means resisting movements of the brake band in one direction as the cable tends to rotate the cable drum in paying out direction under a certain pull on the cable and yieldable to permit the brake band to move in said one direction when said certain pull is exceeded as by a surge to demand paying out of cable, a source of electrical energy, a tension controller and a reclaiming controller, resistance means, interconnected circuit means connecting said motor and motor brake and said controllers and resistance means, and mechanical connections between said ten sion controller and brake band and driving connections between said cable drum and reclaiming controller whereby as the certain pull on the cable is exceeded by a surge to bring about movement of the brake band in said one direction said motor and electric brake and controllers are connected in said circuits so that said surge initially overcomes the torque of the motor and the paying out of cable through said resistance means brings about counter torque of the motor to oppose paying out of cable and snub the same when the peak of the surge has passed and to rotate the cable drum in reclaiming direction.

4. A full automatic towing winch apparatus comprising in combination, a motor and an electric motor brake to hold the motor against rotation when de-energized, a cable-drum having a cable thereon and rotatable in opposite payingout and reclaiming directions, connections between said motor and cable-drum whereby either may rotate the other, a brake drum associated with said connections, a brake band frictionally engaging and movable by said brake drum, tension means resisting movements of the brake band in one direction as the cable tends to rotate the cable drum in paying out direction under a certain pull on the cable and yieldable to permit the brake band to move in said one direction when said certain pull is exceeded as by a surge to demand paying out of cable, a source of electrical energy, a tension controller and a reclaiming controller, resistance means, interconnected circuit means connecting said motor and motor brake and said controllers and resistance means, and mechanical connections between said tension controller and brake band and driving connections between said cable drum and reclaiming controller whereby as the certain pull on the cable is exceeded by a surge to bring about movement of the brake band in said one direction said motor and electric brake and controllers are connected in said circuits so that said surge initially overcomes the torque of the motor and the paying out of cable through said resistance means brings about counter torque of the motor to oppose paying out of cable and snub the same when the peak of the surge has passed and to rotate the cable drum in reclaiming direction, and slip clutch means in the driving connections between the cable drum and reclaiming controller whereby the operation of the former relative to the latter may be limited.

5. A full automatic towing winch apparatus comprising in combination, a motor and an electric motor brake to hold the motor against rotation when de-energized, a cable-drum having a cable thereon and rotatable in opposite payingout and reclaiming directions, connections between said motor and cable-drum whereby either may rotate the other, a brake drum associated with said connections, a brake band frictionally engaging and movable by said brake drum, tension means resisting movements of the brake band in one direction as the cable tends to rotate the cable drum in paying out direction under a certain pull on the cable and yieldable to permit the brake band to move in said one direction when said certain pull is exceeded as by a surge to demand paying out of cable, a source of electrical energy, a tension controller and a reclaiming controller, resistance means, interconnected circuit means connecting said motor and motor brake and said controllers and resistance means, and mechanical connections between said tension controller and brake band and driving connections between said cable drum and reclaiming controller whereby as the certain pull on the cable is exceeded by a surge to bring about movement of the brake band in said one direction said motor and electric brake and controllers are connected in said circuits so that said surge initially overcomes the torque of the motor and the paying out of cable through said resistance means brings about counter torque of the motor to oppose paying out of cable and snub the same when the peak of the surge has passed and to rotate the cable drum in reclaiming direction, slip clutch means in the driving connections between the cable drum and reclaiming controller whereby the operation of the former relative to the latter may be limited, and means associated with said mechanical connections for controlling the point at which a surge in excess of said certain pull to bring about movement of the brake band will operate said tension controller.

ALMO'N A. JOHNSON. 

